Classy Cook fires century as England beat Windies by eight wickets to seal ODI series

By Paul Newman

When Chris Gayle was lifting England’s bowlers effortlessly beyond the Kia Oval’s boundaries, it was possible to believe West Indies were at last poised for their first win of this tour. Normal service, however, was quickly resumed.

Gayle cleared the ropes five times on his first West Indies appearance in over a year, but once he had been dismissed controversially England were on their way to a comprehensive victory, another Alastair Cook century clinching this NatWest series with one of the three games still to play.

This was the day when cricket was put into perspective by the death of Tom Maynard, a subdued atmosphere at his home ground reflecting the shock still felt by the manner and timing of the Surrey batsman’s passing.

A minute’s silence was observed, a condolences book opened and a memorial to one of the country’s best young batsmen set up on a bench outside the pavilion before the show had to go on.

Cook said: ‘It’s been a tough 36 hours for the team. Obviously it was incredibly sad news, and a few of the boys were very emotional, especially at the minute’s silence.

‘He was a great lad and he’ll be greatly missed. Quite a few of the guys played cricket with Tom. It puts cricket into perspective.

‘But on the cricket front, we came out straight away and set the tone.’

If England had little choice other than to get back to business after such a tragedy, the best way to do so was to win their sixth successive home one-day series.

That was in doubt while Gayle, having made his peace with West Indies’ board and shaken off a shin injury, was wreaking havoc.

Once he had hit Steven Finn for three successive fours, the biggest hitter in world cricket was off and running, his powerful,  minimalist style perfectly demonstrated in Tim  Bresnan’s first over.

 

Back with a bang! Gayle returned for the Windies but was out just after making a rapid 50

The second and third balls disappeared straight for six but the best was yet to come, Gayle smashing Bresnan for a mighty third maximum in the over on to the Bedser Stand roof.

But the early introduction of Graeme Swann’s spin proved the key decision of Cook’s day, with a little help from umpire Tony Hill.

Gayle had hit 53 in a stand of 63 with Lendl Simmons when Swann begged Hill to uphold an lbw shout. The Kiwi finally raised his finger, which immediately brought a call for a review from Gayle.

The camera never lies, Chris: Gayle had been smiting England all over The Kia Oval when Hill gave him out. Gayle thought he'd hit it first, but replays showed it was impossible to tell whether the ball struck pad or bat first.
Replays showed the ball had hit the inside edge of Gayle’s bat but it was impossible to know if it struck his pad before or after, hence the correct call of TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena to back his on-field colleague. Gayle stood in disbelief and surely faces a fine for dissent after shaking his head as he dragged himself off, but it is just possible Hill made a brilliant decision. There was no evidence to overturn it, the adage of the batsman gaining the benefit of any doubt having disappeared with the advent of the decision review system.

West Indies’ hopes disappeared with Gayle. Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, also back from the IPL, gave their side hope with a stand of 100, both given a life through fielding lapses from Craig Kieswetter and Eoin Morgan.

But, even though their partnership brought the rare sight of Andy Flower offering instructions to Cook via Swann on the  boundary edge, it was not nearly enough on a perfect Oval pitch. The tourists hit nine sixes but the West Indian hares are proving no match for the England tortoises.

Orthodox, classical one-day cricket played by specialists is proving an effective policy for England, as again perfectly  demonstrated by their captain when they set off in pursuit of West Indies 238 for nine.

Gayle has hit 174 sixes in one-day internationals compared to Cook’s four, the fourth coming on Tuesday before he holed out for 112 next ball, but the captain does not need power to produce  well-judged, authoritative, match-winning innings. 

 

Nobody now can question Cook’s right to lead this team - he even ran out Simmons with a direct hit - and another century, the sixth in successive matches by an England opener, saw his side ease home with eight wickets and 30 balls in hand.

West Indies were expected to compete more strongly in one-day cricket than Tests but their big guns’ return seems to have had an adverse effect on them.

They have Friday’s final 50-over game at Headingley and Sunday’s Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge to make any impression on an England side warming up nicely to face South Africa.